Eleven officials from the Ministry of Interior and Security, and Police Force in Ivory Coast visited Rwanda National Police (RNP) headquarters yesterday with a view to sharing lessons.

They were received by the Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana and briefed on the RNP policing journey since its inception 14 years ago and Rwanda’s policing history

"For the last four years, we have been reinstating national security in Ivory Coast and developing a strong Police Force and Rwanda’s experience is one of the best we want to learn from,” Fidel Yapi, the director of Studies, Research and Monitoring at the Ivorian Ministry of Interior and Security and head of delegation, said.

"Rwanda, like Ivory Coast, has gone through difficult periods but recovered quickly. We have a lot to learn from such a rapid transformation,” he added.

He was particularly impressed with how RNP works with other institutions and the general public in addressing security concerns and gender based violence in particular, including handling victims.

"I am impressed with RNP’s closeness to the people,” Yapi noted.

"These lessons, among others, are additional resources to our Police Force back home,” he said.

IGP Gasana commended the delegation for taking part in the just concluded Kigali International Conference (KICD) Annual General Assembly.

He attributed the success of RNP to visionary leadership.

"We are a Force which is only 14 years old. We have moved through challenges of organised crime and law reforms. We have restructured to move in line with the national vision and development agenda,” he said.

To realise the RNP targets, he noted that the Force identified ten priority areas to ensure sustainable homeland security.

The priorities include capacity building, community policing, fighting corruption, international cooperation, crime reduction strategy, e-policing policing, force discipline and welfare.

He emphasised that training is essential in policing.

"We are still facing some challenges. We are still building capacities and capabilities and are determined and readily available to cooperate with you to move our forces further,” IGP Gasana said.

The Ivorian delegation also visited the RNP GBV victims support centre, Isange One-Stop Centre, which offers free medical and legal services to GBV victims, and Kinyinya Sector in Gasabo District to witness how the concept of community policing helps in fighting and preventing crime.

Through financial contributions by each household in Kinyinya, the sector bought a patrol vehicle to facilitate community night patrols, installed CCTV cameras in places vulnerable to criminals, and set up community posts, locally called Irondo.

Recently, RNP awarded Kinyinya with a Tipper truck for its outstanding achievements in community policing.

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